Transformable container

ABSTRACT

A container can be prepared with a detachable section that is operable to be removed along a separation line by a user. The container transforms from a packaging container into a serving container after the detachable section is torn off. Additionally, the container can be in any size, shape or material. For example, the container can be a bag made of any material that serves food and can be separated so that it transforms into a serving piece.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/748,669, entitled TRANSFORMABLE CONTAINER”, by Daniel A. Wychulis, filed on Jan. 3, 2013.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a container.

BACKGROUND

Containers, such as packaging bags, are widely used in different industries for conveniently holding various items. For example, in the fast food industry, brown paper bags are frequently used to package fast food, such as freshly cooked chicken nuggets or tortilla chips, which can be taken out and eaten by consumers. These bags, while convenient for packaging and transporting, are not suitable for consuming the food or other items contained therein. Users wishing to consume food directly from such packaging containers can find them cumbersome for serving purposes.

This is the general area that embodiments of the invention are intended to address.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a transformable container in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the transformable container with a detachable section removed, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is illustrated, by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, providing a way to transform a package, e.g. a bag, into a serving piece allows the serving piece to contain and present items in one clean place while also considerably increasing visibility and ease of access to the packaged items, such as food, originally contained in the package.

Transformable containers can be used as convenient serving containers. For example, when a family is on the road, passengers, including young children, often consume the food items directly out of the packaging containers. Traditional packaging bags are optimized for packaging purposes, but not for serving purposes. Retrieving food items for consumption from a container optimized for serving makes the food more visible, easily retrievable and the overall experience more enjoyable. This is especially so for children and people with disabilities, who may have difficulty reaching into tall food bags to retrieve food, without being able to see inside a traditional packaging container, and who may be prone to cause spills or damages.

Transformable packaging bags can be transformed and used at a restaurant or in a sit-down setting as a convenient serving apparatus. They can be taken from a counter and placed on a table. For example, a patron can remove the top of a transformable packaging container of tortilla chips, and the bag can become an instant serving bowl of tortilla chips. The patron can now easily see and retrieve the chips from the transformed serving bowl. By not requiring transferring of the food items from the packaging container to an outside serving piece, a transformable packaging bag can help keep food consumption sanitary, reduce the likelihood for spillage or untidiness. Transformable packaging bags also reduce energy and resources required in manufacturing of additional serving pieces and in cleaning them after use, and can lead to a reduction in overall human-produced waste.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a transformable container in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a packaging container 100 can be prepared with a detachable section 102 that is operable to be removed, by means such as tearing or pulling apart, along a separation line or its proximity 103 by a user.

For example, the packaging container 100 can be a paper bag, a plastic bag, or a cardboard box that may be used to contain food or small items. Additionally, the packaging container 100 can also be a foil type bag, e.g. a retail potato chip bag, or other containers that are used for containing various types of food.

The separation line 103 can be prepared by means including: cutting away a portion of the packaging container 100; applying closely spaced perforations on the packaging container 100; using a tearing strip; and using a lighter or thinner material along the line than the rest of the container. After a user removes the detachable section 102 along the separation line 103, the packaging container 100 can transform into a serving container 101.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the separation line 103 can optionally start from the top opening of the packaging container 100, so that the user can easily create an opening by removing the detachable section 102.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the separation line 103 can be configured or optimized for serving purposes, since the geometry and location of the separation line 103 can determine the shape and size of the serving container 101.

For example, there can be multiple separation lines, e.g. the separation lines 103 and 113, on the packaging container 100, so that a user can choose to tear off a portion of the detachable section 102 from the packaging container 100 and create a serving container 101 with a depth accordingly to the quantity of the items contained.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container 100 can take on one or more of various simple or complex shapes, such as box, cube, bag, cylinder, pyramid, cone, sphere, prism, and others.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the transformable container with a detachable section removed, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging container 200 can transform into a serving container 201 after one or more detachable sections, e.g. section 202 and 203, are removed.

The separation line can be manipulated by the user to remove the detachable sections by means including tearing, pulling apart, and removing a tearing strip, etc.

Furthermore, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the serving container 201 can be prepared using a material, or applied with a lining, padding or a coating inside or outside, which is different from what is used in the detachable sections 202 or 203. Such material, lining, padding, or coating can be optimized for handling the particular item 210 being contained.

For example, thermal materials can be used for hot food or cold food. Anti-leak materials can be used for liquid. Non-stick materials can be used for greasy food or materials. Strengthened materials can be used to contain fragile or sharp items.

The separation line can be optimized so that the edges of the serving container 201 is soft and smooth. Users, e.g. young children, can reach in the serving container 201 and retrieve items such as chicken nuggets where the possibility of cuts or other injuries can be significantly reduced. Small particles near the corners inside the container can become more easily retrievable.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, after being removed from the packaging container 100, the detached portion of the container 202 can be used as an additional serving container.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the detachable sections 202 or 203 can be re-attached to the remaining section 201 as a cover or lid.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, after being removed from the packaging container 200, the detached portion of the container 202 and 203 can be used as a graphical ornament or a recreational game, such as board games, puzzles, origami, coloring sheets, mazes, cartoons, joke sheets, etc.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the detached sections 202, 203, and the remaining section 201 can take on one or more of various simple or complex shapes, such as box, cube, bag, cylinder, pyramid, cone, sphere, prism, and others.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be specially designed for use by users with small body frames or below-average motor skills, such as young children or physically impaired persons. The separation line can be designed to separate with great ease. The serving portion can be designed with a low height so that articles contained in the portion can become more visible and more easily retrieved.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be used to contain servings of food chips, such as potato, corn, or tortilla chips. After removing the detachable sections, the remaining section can be used as a serving bowl for the food chips.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be used to as an airtight container, such as a foil bag, of snack food, such as potato chips. After removing the detachable sections, the remaining section can be used as an instant serving piece.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the packaging container can be specially adapted for use in an automobile. Features can include a spill-proof lid, a wide base, a friction bottom, and a serving section adapted to be placed on the center console of an automobile.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art. The variations may include combination of two or more features disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalence. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container apparatus, comprising: a container prepared with a detachable section that is operable to be torn off along a separation line or tear strip by a user, wherein the container transforms from a packaging container into a serving container after the detachable section is torn off.
 2. The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said separation line is prepared by at least one of cutting away a portion of the container, using closely spaced perforations, and using a tearing stripe.
 3. The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the separation line is optimized so that the edge of the serving container is smooth.
 4. The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the container is one of a paper bag, a plastic bag, a foil bag, cardboard box or any material such that can be used to contain food or small items
 5. The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the container can be prepared using a material, or applied with a coating, which is different from being used in the detachable section.
 6. The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the container is prepared with multiple separation lines, which allow the serving container to be created with a depth accordingly to the quantity of the items contained.
 7. The container apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the separation line starts from a top opening of the packaging container, so that a user can easily create an opening for tearing off the detachable section. 